Pendulum Lab Guidelines

Simple Harmonic Motion Lab Report

There are four variables. You need to do at least two of these variables yourself. The more the better. You may use results from another group for the other variables, but make sure to get their data and give due credit.

Derivation of the period of a pendulum formula
Dependence on mass, angle, length, and gravity
Angle approximation where Sin θ= θ
Energy in a pendulum system (kinetic and gravitational potential)
Include historical details

Include modeling results from computer simulations!!!!!!!!!

Procedure
Include a picture here.
Mention what variables you changes (such as mass)
Mention how you set-up pendulums and measured periods.
Mention what variables you changes (such as mass, length, angle, gravity)
Analysis
Table of data for a single mass and single angle at four different lengths.
Graph of data for period vs Square Root of length. Do a linear best fit. Interpret this.
Graph of data for Length vs Period. Do a quadratic fit. Interpret this.

Graph of data for period vs Square Root of gravity. Do a linear best fit. Interpret this.
Graph of data for Gravity vs Period. Do a quadratic fit. Interpret this.
Table of data for a single mass and single length at five different angles. Interpret this. Mention what approximations were made. In particular, what happens at large angles. According to theory, the period should be constant, if not, explain what errors there are.
Table of data for a single angle and single length at five different masses. Interpret this. The period should not vary with mass. If it does, explain your errors. Do the magnitude of the errors make sense?

Conclusion
What has been shown by your experiments. What problems were there. How could you have improved each of these experiments.

Appendix
Make sure to include your diagrams, bibliography, etc.

Galileo and Huygens can be credited with most of the work on pendulum based clocks.